OSR: Basilisks

A standard Basilisk is the size of a mastiff dog, and looks like an oversized chameleon. They come in a wide variety of flavors, shapes, and forms. So each specimen has some distinctive characteristics, and some commonalities.

Truth is, any lizard of significant size can become a Basilisk. The more they eat, the bigger they get. The bigger they get, the higher the chances of developing the petrifying gaze trait that distinguishes them. Stone coated flesh is just an evolutionary developed taste for them. Petrified statues become a prized pantry. Contrary to a dog, Basilisks have the instinct to save food for a rainy day. It's a matter of caloric conservation.

As to their origin, there are numerous speculative theories. Some scholars claim this is pure evolutionary logic. Some lizards living underground developed the cunning to get their nutrients from minerals and stones (carbs being hard to get by). The gaze was a need to multiply said calories. Others claim that the First Emperor of the Itean Empire had a fetish with lizards, and built gardens full of reptilians, feeding slaves, spies, and perjurers to the cold blooded creatures. His adoration turning into experimentation and cross-breeding sprouted the first Basilisks.

Basilisk Template HD: 6 Omen: PCs will find extremely realistic statues, with bitemarks! Of humanoids, but also of animals, insects, and other creatures. The Basilisk has sparkling eyes that glow in the dark like two mostly consumed candles. Appearance: Size of a mastiff dog, looks like an oversized chameleon. Come in a wide variety of flavors, shapes, and forms. Get a Number Appearing: Solo, pair, d6 Wants: Food! Needs at least a full human per week to subsist, but can eat much more. Or roll a random  Armor: As Chain. Movement: Normal. If the Basilisk didn't move last turn, it can move at 2x Normal speed for this one. Morale: 8 (12 if protecting their petrified statue collection) Save As: Fighter [HD] Attacks: +[HD] to Hit, Bite d10 / Petrifying Gaze (passive, affects up to 2 different creatures) Special: Petrifying Gaze: Every round the Basilisk can fix their chameleon eyes onto up to two creatures. The victims must Save vs Petrification. On a first fail their legs start turning into stone (stuck in place), and they take a -4 penalty to AC. As long as the Basilisk keeps fixating one of its eyes into that victim, they stay in this state. On a second round they must also Save vs Petrification. On a second failure, the process continues, and they irreversibly turn to stone. On a success on the second save the first penalties still apply until the Basilisk dies, a turn (10 minutes) has elapsed, or the Basilisk averts the gaze. A creature can voluntarily avert their gaze or close their eyes, which negates the Petrifying Gaze effect, but they suffer a -4 to hit and -2 to AC.

Basilisk Sparks 

Roll and make your Basilisk unique! Or pick by hand. You can roll several times, but some entries are mutually exclusive.

d30	Spark	Effect
1	Jelly Skin*	Like butter. Armor as Unarmored
2	Vegetarian*	Looses the Bite attack. Reaction rolls are done with +2.
3	Diminutive*	Small but vicious. Size of a squirrel. Half HD. Everything else equal.
4	Ham Legs*	Short and stocky. Reduce movement to 1/2 Normal.
5	Fickle*	Morale 5
6	Ice Blooded	Save vs Fear in the presence of significant fire (several torches, for instance).
7	Bat Wings	Gain a flying speed equal to Normal.
8	Gecko Feet	Cam climb at Normal speed (also upside down).
9	Regeneration	Regains a HD each round. Severed limbs regrow in d6 turns.
10	Whip Tongue	Each turn choose either this attack or the Bite. 20ft range. On a hit the target is grappled, and has to break free.
11	Hard Shell	Like a turtle's. Armor as Plate + Shield.
12	2d4 Heads	Gets to do a Bite attack per head. Each HD reduced is a head chopped.
13	Abundant Sentience	14 Intelligence, speaks Common and Draconian. Knows d4 random Magic User Spells.
14	Chameleon Mimetism	4-in-6 to stealth
15	Spiked Skin	Melee attacks against the Basilisk result in d4 damage taken by the attacker.
16	Regurgitated Stomach Bile	Breath weapon, 30ft cone. Save vs Breath or take 2d6 damage.
17	Triple Jaws	Like shark rows of teeth. Bite attack deals 3d10 damage instead.
18	Amphibious	Gains a swimming speed of Normal, and can breathe underwater.
19	Echolocation	Can navigate in complete pitch darkness, and locate invisible creatures. Can't see when deafened.
20	Tail Club	Everyone within 10ft Save vs Breath or take d8 damage. Nearby statues are knocked and break.
21	Twisted Horns	Gains an additional Charge attack (deals 2d6 damage and knocking prone, if it moved against the target).
22	Multi-legged	Speed is 2x Normal.
23	Viciously Unbreakable	Morale 12
24	Stinger Tail	Like a scorpion's. d8 damage and Save vs Petrification on a hit. If save failed, immediately turn to stone.
25	Elastic Limbs	Joints rotate in all directions. Hard to pin down or grapple/wrestle (+4 bonus to resist)
26	66 Tiny Eyes	Cannot be surprised.
27	Goat Legs	Can jump and hop up to Normal speed twice per round.
28	Headless Brutality	On death, body flails and runs around mindlessly for 10 minutes, stumbling and throwing everything around.
29	Eye Rays	Each Petrifying Gaze Save failed causes in addition d10 damage.
30	Stone Glide	Can pass through solid stone as if it was mud or a slime.

* these Sparks make the Basilisk weaker, not stronger

Simon Seene

What does the Basilisk Want?

d6	Motivation?
1	Protect the eggs. They are big and HEAVY, made of sheer stone. Like ostrich ones.
2	Food! It's deprived, and hungry for stony flesh.
3	Protect their territory, their home.
4	Something shiny! Gems, gold, or something glowy (torches don't count; it can't be hot!)
5	Creatures to play with! Like a clumsy oversized dog, it fails to think anyone is being harmed. It's all a game!
6	This one is expecting their Master's return. They wait and protect like the obedient pet they are.

Reversing the Gaze

• The most effective way to reverse someone stoned by a Basilisk is to use an antidote smeared on the victim's statue'd state. This involves a puré with equal parts Basilisk brain and strong alcohol (rum, vodka, whisky). The full process takes 1 hour when applied.
• Note that a Basilisk's brain is extremely delicate and hard to carry around. Misplacing or mishandling it removes its properties, damaging the synaptic neuron connections required for a reversal of the petrified condition.
• Alternatively, a sage specialist, master ranger, or other specialist might be able to concoct an antidote if the full carcass of a Basilisk is brought to them, and they have a week's time.

Advice for the Reckless Adventurer

Basilisks are scary, and deadly. They can wipe out a powerful individual in a whim. And then devour their stony remains. Facing one should always be avoided or circumvented. There's no incentive. Bring bait (disposable livestock), cover their head with a sack and chain them on the neck. Wear specialist protective goggles (expensive!) to delay the petrifying process. Blind it. Distract it. Smoke it out of its lair.

Reading List

• Wizzzargh's Basilisk
• Basic Fantasy RPG
• Tomb of the Serpent King
• Esoteric Enterprises pg. 227 (the section on Dragons)